The Employment Rights Act became law in December 2025 and will change the employment rights framework in the UK. While many businesses already offer benefits and protections beyond those required by legislation, others will need to adapt.
Changes are being introduced over a two-year period. Measures relating to trade unions and protection from sexual harassment came into effect on 30 October 2026, while a new duty to inform workers of their right to join a trade union and changes to the Unfair Dismissal qualifying period will take effect on 1 January. This means that anyone with six months’ service on 1 January will be protected from unfair dismissal.
Please see below some useful links:
- To find out more about the reforms and access free guidance, visit business.gov.uk, sign up for updates, and access the timeline to review when measures will go live.
- Acas provides free, impartial advice on workplace rights, rules and best practice, and also runs training courses.
- Acas has delivered a webinar on the Employment Rights Act 2025 through the Business Academy, available to watch on demand here.
- Employers should seek their own advice on the changes most relevant to them and ensure they take steps to be compliant. Further detail on recent and forthcoming measures includes:
- Sexual Harassment prevention: The Equality and Human Rights Commission has published an 8-step guide for employers and technical guidance on complying with measures. Additional guidance is also available here.
- Unfair Dismissal: Acas has published updated guidance on probation periods ahead of changes to the unfair dismissal qualifying period.
- Duty to inform: From 1 January, employers must provide workers with a written statement informing them of their right to join a trade union. Further information is available here, with additional guidance to follow this month.
- The government has published factsheets covering all policies within the Act.
Toolkit for trade associations and intermediaries only, not for individual businesses: BIST has updated its stakeholder communications toolkit with the latest programme developments. It provides materials to help explain the Employment Rights Act 2025 changes to members and stakeholders and direct them to the readiness website.
